Today, Explained The minerals that rule our world
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May 27, 2025 
Ernest Scheider, a senior correspondent for Reuters and author of 'The War Below', along with Gracelyn Baskarin, Director of the Critical Minerals Security Program, dive into the global race for critical minerals. They discuss how these materials are reshaping U.S. foreign policy and alliances, especially with China. The conversation highlights environmental concerns linked to mineral extraction and the geopolitical dynamics in mineral-rich regions. They also touch on the urgent need for domestic production to bolster national security and advance technology.
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Understanding Critical Minerals
- Critical minerals include copper, lithium, nickel, and rare earths that power electronics and electrified economy.
- Their demand has exploded due to new technology and electrification trends worldwide.
Mining's Double-Edged Impact
- Mining critical minerals is essential but causes environmental and social tension.
- Processing minerals is equally important and faces local resistance like mining itself.
Minerals Define Economic Power
- Control over critical minerals will shape the 21st century economy like oil did the 20th.
- Mineral security is bipartisan and vital for U.S. national security and economic well-being.
